Morocco's FM briefs Arab peace initiative committee on visit of king Mohammed to USA
Morocco-Regional, Politics, 5/20/2002

Morocco's minister of foreign affairs and cooperation, Mohamed Benaissa, who took part Saturday in the 1st meeting of the Arab peace initiative follow up committee --set up by last March's Arab summit of Beirut -- briefed peers from Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Yemen on results of a visit by King Mohammed VI to the USA last month.

Benaissa told MAP office in Beirut he made before the committee a presentation on talks held by the sovereign with US officials, including president Bush, over peace in the Middle East and the incidence of Israeli invasion and blockade of the Palestinian people, territories and institutions.

He also talked to the Beirut session of Morocco's stance on an eventual international conference on the Middle east and explained that the sovereign clearly insisted, during his talks in Washington, on the need for Israel to withdraw from all Palestinian territories and to lift the blockade on Palestinian institutions and facilities.

He added that the sovereign also insisted that peace between Arabs and Israelis should be approached in a comprehensive manner and that the conference should clearly address all Arab-Israeli disputes including Israel's war against the Palestinian people and leadership, occupation of the Syrian Golan heights and of the Shebaa farms (south Lebanon), all other aspects related to the borders of the independent Palestinian state and the issues of water and refugees.

The sovereign further made it clear that the Arab peace initiative (presented by Saudi Arabia and adopted by last March's Arab summit) should serve as an essential frame that is based on the Madrid conference, the land-for-peace principle, agreements already concluded between Israelis and Palestinians and accords biding Israel and other Arab sides, added Benaissa.

Of the proposed international conference for the Middle East, Benaissa said the sovereign wants it to be well-prepared and to be preceded by a meeting of experts and of foreign ministers. The sovereign also insisted that Palestinian President Yasser Arafat must attend the conference, in his capacity as a legally-elected president who represents the Palestinian people.

After he stressed that the U.S. Politics have changed following last September 11 events, the Moroccan foreign affairs and cooperation minister said the king urged the US administration and congress to make a clear distinction between terrorism as it is universally defined and actions of resistance for liberation, as is the case with the Palestinian resistance which is a legitimate resistance struggling for existence and against Israeli occupiers.

Of the committee proceedings which he described as "frank, clear and committed," Benaissa said foreign ministers discussed a plan to inform the American public opinion on the stances of Arab countries and fight the misinformation against the Arab peace plan.

Previous Stories:
  Morocco renews support for proposed international peace conference   (5/16/2002)
  Morocco elected chairman of APU ad-hoc committee   (5/9/2002)
  Morocco will participate in international conference on middle east and Palestine   (5/8/2002)

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